Page 86 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

“Truly. I’m glad Alek saw that and took me under his wing.”

Internally, Anika cringed. Levi was giving praise to a man who deservednone.

“Does his son also value you? I know there was some restructuring once Alek passed…” Anika was fishing for information.

Dabbing at his mouth with a napkin, his blue eyes bright, Levi responded, “He has no choicebutto value me. His father made sureI’d have a place in the firm, my potential and experience too great to eliminate.”

Interesting.“Well, I’m glad you two get along then.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but whatever pays the bills, right?” Levi winked.

She held up her glass, waiting until he clinked his against it. “Right.” A soft pause filled the air as they sipped. “Although, working with people you like is a large proponent of enjoying your job.”

“It’s moments like this that make me enjoy my job.”

Anika’s insides clenched abhorrently.Ew.“Maybe one day, you can take over Romanov. Seems you’re destined for it anyway. Real estateistied to good client outreach and satisfaction.”

She was pushing hard, and it could backfire—

“Are you sayingyou’resatisfied with my work?” he taunted.

Anika grinned into her wine, nodding.

Sure, whatever will keep you talking.

Levi smiled at her before continuing. “While that’s what I deserve, I fear Mr. Romanov’s love of control and dislike for me might make that, hmm, how do I say…difficult.”

“Never say never,” she said. “The universe has a funny way of manifesting our wants.”

“I suppose you’re right.” He fidgeted with the cuff of his shirt.

Always am.

Levi’s phone buzzed as soon as they’d finished each taking another sip of wine. Through the wavy rim of the glass, Anika watched him quickly type in his password.2 6 4 5 2

Her brain pictured the number pad, thoughts whirring as she placed the combination together in her head. She swallowed roughly,herfood settling wrong this time.

“Sorry,” he explained, mannerisms distracted, “I was expecting an important call tonight.”

“For work?”

He glanced up at her, teeth flashing in his quick, reassuring smile. “Yes, a large deal we’re trying to close has come across a couple…snags, but we’re nothing if not persistent.”

She tapped the stem of her glass. “I have no doubt you’ll get your way.” A double meaning was encased within the words, but he didn’t catch it. His focus on his screen instead.

He hesitated, eyes reading over a message Anika couldn’t see. “Exactly,” he locked his phone and turned it over before placing it on the counter, out of reach for both of them, “besides, tonight is about us.”

“Of course, no worries.” Dropping the subject, they both fell into silence as they finished up the last scraps of their food.

As Anika was about to suggest either another glass of wine or a taxi home, Levi stood. “Do you need anything? I’m going to run to the restroom.”

“No, I’m okay, thank you.” Her words were all he needed before he disappeared through one of the open doorways. It must be his bedroom, but her gaze wasn’t focused on that anymore. Instead, it latched onto his abandoned phone, still laying face down on the counter.

Does he really think I‘m so naive? So trusting?

It didn’t matter; she was going to snoop regardless of what he thought of her. Everything he’d told her mirrored information she’d divulged on her own. Which wouldn’t be a problem to most, but it made Anika’s mind uneasy.Shehad things to hide, therefore, couldn’t disclose all of her secrets. Who was to say Levi wasn’t doing the same thing to her.

Reaching out, she plucked his phone off the counter, swiping up and entering the passcode she’d seen him type out earlier.It worked, her blood thrumming with excitement. She kept her ears perked,ready to set his phone back where she’d gotten it from within seconds.